Going green at DoT
Shawn Merrithew, BUGLE-OBSERVER Published Tuesday January 27th, 2009
Some area plows and school buses to burn biodiesel produced locally by Eastern Greenway Oils of Centreville
With the global focus on protecting the climate and the environment, the New Brunswick government is looking at greener ways to operate its vehicles.
 Photo by Shawn Merrithew |
New Brunswick cabinet members fill up a Department of Transportation truck with biodiesel during their Friday morning announcement at the DoT depot in Woodstock. From left are Transportation Minister Denis Landry, Energy Minister Jack Keir and Environment Minister Roland Haché. |
Through the New Brunswick Climate Action Fund, Environment Minister Roland Haché said, the province is turning to biodiesel in an effort to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.
On Friday morning, Haché was in Woodstock, along with Transportation Minister Denis Landry and Energy Minister Jack Keir, to make the announcement.
The Woodstock branch of the Department of Transportation will undertake $215,000-trial project of using biodiesel in 12 of its vehicles, including plow trucks and schools buses.
"This project is evidence that our government is committed to achieving the goals set out in the New Brunswick Climate Change Action Plan," Haché said. "We made the commitment to research biodiesel with a view to requiring a minimum average of five per cent ethanol in gasoline and five per cent biodiesel in diesel fuel sold for vehicle or heating fuel use in New Brunswick. Investments such as this will ensure that New Brunswick continues to be a promoter of environmental sustainability, which we must achieve to remain in position to be self-sufficient by 2026."
Haché pointed out the project will be closely monitored to determine the serviceability of a five-per cent blend of biodiesel in the province's climate. He expects the use of biodiesel in DoT vehicles could result in an annual reduction of 2,000 tons of greenhouse-gas emissions.
Transportation Minister Landry said the project fits well with his department's green-vehicle policy, and he is pleased to be a part of the project.
"The air we breathe is for everybody," said Landry. "This is the type of policies I like to implement because I'm talking with my kids about the environment. They are more concerned about the environment than I was at their age, and that is what I like about this - being able to implement new technology, new fuel or new things to improve the quality of our air."
The project is originating in Woodstock, Landry pointed out, as it is easier to get the supply from Eastern Greenway Oils Inc. in Waterville and distributed by Clark Fuels in Woodstock.
As supply becomes more readily available across the province, he said, it will become easier for DoT to put more biodiesel vehicles on the road. If things move the way he believes they will, he said DoT and other departments could soon become a lot greener for the future.
"This is a test for us," Landry explained. "If it is positive, we won't have any problems to use the fuel in some other of our fleet."
Energy Minister Keir said the project could lead to bigger and better things for the energy sector. Since the province is always searching for renewable and cleaner energy sources, this project falls into the province's vision to become an energy hub.
"This is a prime example in Woodstock where you have a company that is on leading edge in terms of processing biodiesel to sell to DoT to use in buses and plows," Keir said.
"It is great for the environment, it is a wonderful project for Eastern Greenway Oils and it is good for New Brunswickers."
The Department of Energy will also be closely monitoring the project, Keir said, and, if it achieves positive results, the department will look at other opportunities for biodiesel.
"This biodiesel opportunity is more than just vehicles," Keir explained. "It could be home heating. It is a cleaner and environmentally-friendly additive to home-heating sources, to vehicles and to farm equipment. There are all kinds of opportunity here, (but) we just want to make sure it is a win for everybody."